Our Charter

OUR CHARTER

  1. The organisation, founded on the 20th of June 2015, is called Polis180 and has its headquarters in Berlin. It is entered in the register of associations and therefore receives the addition „e.V.“.
  2. The financial year is the calendar year.
  1. The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section „tax-privileged purposes“ of the tax code (AO), in particular: a) the promotion of science and research, in particular of the nonpartisan and multidisciplinary dialogue to solve political challenges of foreign and European policy. In particular, this purpose will be realized through the establishment of thematic and regional programs for members and the public on external and European issues; the implementation of own research projects, the results of which are published promptly as well as the conduct of our own political analyzes according to scientific as well as journalistic standards; b) the promotion of international sentiment, tolerance in all areas of culture and of international understanding, as well as access of young people to political discourse, in particular by supporting foreign visitors in Germany, promoting the encounter between Germans and foreigners in Germany and the exchange of information in Germany and abroad; (c) general promotion of democratic governance, in particular through political education and the development of skills that enable members and outsiders to form their own political views. These include, for example, the organization of events, conferences and panel discussions, the establishment of partnerships with other tax-privileged associations, agencies, universities and similar institutions with the aim of honoring democratic principles and networking of members with experts and the public;
  2. This association is non-profit; its primary goal is not financial gain.
  3. The administrative offices of the organisation (§ 7) are filled on a voluntary basis.
  4. Funds received by the association may only be used for statutory purposes. The members do not receive payments from the association.
  5. No individual may benefit from fees which are unrelated to the purposes of the association or from disproportionately high remuneration. 
  6. The association grants equal rights to members of all nationalities and backgrounds and represents the principle of political, religious, and ideological tolerance and neutrality.

The organisation consists of:

  1. Adult members
  2. Honorary members according to § 12
  1. Any adult can be a member of the organisation.
  2. Membership must be requested in writing according to the articles of the association. Acceptance is decided upon by the board. Membership refusal does not have to be justified. 
  3. There is a trial period of 3 months. During this time, the potential member has no voting rights and may not be elected. Exceptions are the founding members.  At the end of the probationary period, the Executive Board decides on admission as a full member (as per § 3).
  4. The membership expires by: a) resignation; b) exclusion; c) death; d) Deletion of the association.
  5. Resignation must be declared in writing to the Executive Board. The notice period is one month to the end of the quarter.
  6. Upon termination of membership, the payment obligation remains valid until that date.
  7. Former or excluded members are not entitled to any shares of the assets of the organisation. Other claims of a departed or excluded member must be made in writing and asserted by registered letter within three months after the termination of membership.
  1. The members are entitled to participate in the association’s events as is part of the purpose of the association.
  2. All members are obliged to behave according to the charter, the further regulations of the association, as well as the decisions of the general meeting.
  3. Contributions and assessments are levied by the members. The amount of the membership fees, the due date, the method of payment as well as additional fees, in particular in the event of late payment or use of a form of payment other than those provided for by the Rules of Fees, shall govern the membership fees to be adopted by the General Assembly.
    Contributions may be resolved only to fulfill the purpose of the association and to cover a larger financial needs of the association, which can not be met with the regular contributions. They may be raised at most once a year and in principle only up to the amount of a double annual membership fee.
  4. The Management Board is authorized to post, reduce or waive the fees on a reasonable request.
  5. Everything else is regulated according to the Membership Fees.
  1. Measures may be taken by members of the Executive Board against members – except honorary members – a) for substantial violation of statutory obligations or violation of regulations and resolutions; b) due to payment arrears with contributions of more than one annual fee despite reminder; c) for behavior that damages society, a serious violation of the interests of the association.
  2. Disciplinary actions are: a) reprimand; b) expulsion from the association.
  3. In all cases, prior to the decision, the member concerned should have the opportunity to speak. The member is to be summoned in writing with a minimum of 10 days for a board hearing. This period begins with the day of dispatch. The decision on the measure is to be sent to the person concerned by mail. An appeal to the General Assembly against the decision is permissible. The appeal must be filed in writing within two weeks of receipt of the decision. The general meeting has the final decision. The notification is deemed to have been received on the third day after posting the mail to the last known address of the person concerned.
  4. The right to judicial review of decisions remains unaffected.

The structure of the association is: a) the general meeting; b) the board.

  1. The highest body of the association is the general meeting. It is responsible for: a) Receiving the reports of the board; b) Receipt of the report of the auditors; c) discharge of the board; d) election of presidents; e) choice of treasurer; f) Election of the members of the Extended Board; g) noting the financial plan; h) amendments to the Articles of Association; i) decision and amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly; j) decision and amendment of the contribution regulations; k) decision on applications; l) hearing the appeal against a measure (§ 6.3); m) Appointment / removal of honorary members according to § 12; n) Dissolution of the association.
  2. The general meeting takes place at least once a year; it should be done in the second quarter of the calendar year.
  3. The convening of general meetings is carried out by the Board by written invitation. Members who have a registered e-mail address with the board will receive the invitation via electronic mail. To ensure a timely and proper invitation, it is sufficient to send the invitation to the last known address.

There must be a period of at least six and no more than nine weeks between the date of the invitation and the date of the meeting. The agenda must be communicated with the written convening of the general meeting. Requests for amendments to the Articles of Association must be submitted to the Board of Directors three weeks before the General Meeting. The executive committee must make submitted changes to the statutes one week before the general meeting accessible to the members.

  1. The General Assembly has a quorum regardless of the number of members present. Decisions and elections are decided by a simple majority of the valid votes cast. Abstentions are not considered cast votes; a tie vote leads to a rejection.
  2. Changes to the statutes require a two-thirds majority of the valid votes cast. Changes to the purpose of the association require a three-quarters majority of the valid votes cast.
  3. Elections are by secret ballot. All other decisions are made by show of hands, unless a member requests a secret ballot. Block elections are permitted at the request of a member and the approval of the general assembly.
  4. Applications may be submitted: a) by each member; b) by the board.
  5. An extraordinary general meeting must be convened by the Board when the club interest requires it or if at least 20 V. H. calling the members to convene in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.
  6. Applications must be received at least 3 weeks before the general meeting in writing to the board of the association. Subsequent requests may only be dealt with in the General Assembly if their urgency is affirmed by a simple majority vote. Requests for amendments to the Statutes that are not on the agenda will be dealt with at one of the next General Meetings. Urgent requests for amendments to the statutes are excluded.
  7. The general meeting elects a chairman. The General Assembly prepares minutes signed by the Chairman and the Secretary.
  8. Everything else is governed by rules of procedure adopted by the General Assembly.
  1. Members under 40 have the right to vote for board members and changes to the charter.
  2. The right to vote can only be exercised in person.
  3. All able-bodied members of the association who have not yet reached the age of 39 can be elected.
  4. Members who are not entitled to vote may attend the general meetings. The participation of other persons is decided by the General Assembly itself.
  1. The board consists of: a) the two presidents; b) the treasurer; c) up to seven other members
  2. The board conducts business in the sense of the statutes and the resolutions of the general meeting. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority. In case of a tie, the vote of the presidents decides. If the presidents disagree, the business goes to the general meeting. The board organizes and supervises the affairs of the association and reports to the general meeting about its activities. The Executive Board is entitled to set up committees for specific purposes and to found an advisory council for support. The Board can also issue binding orders.
  3. Executive Board within the meaning of § 26 BGB are: a) the two presidents; b) the treasurer.
    In court and out of court, the association is represented jointly by two of the aforementioned members of the executive board.
  4. The members of the board are elected for one year each. They remain in office until a new board is elected. If a member of the executive board resigns before the end of the term of office, the general assembly elects a new member of the executive board for the remainder of the term of office. If this general meeting cannot take place in a timely manner, the Executive Board is entitled to temporarily fill this position of the Executive Board.
  5. Protocol is made by the Bureau meetings, which are signed by the chairman or a representative for the chairman and the secretary.
  6. Everything else is governed by rules of procedure adopted by the Executive Board.
  1. Officers, members and employees of the association are entitled to reimbursement of expenses according to § 670 BGB for such expenses incurred by their activities for the association. These include in particular travel costs, travel expenses, postage and telephone costs. The reimbursement presupposes the prior award of the contract by the Management Board and is only to the extent and in the amount recognized by the statutory provisions as tax-free.
  2. The claim for reimbursement of expenses can only be asserted within a period of three months after its creation. Refunds will be granted only if the expenses are proved with verifiable evidence and statements.
  3. The executive committee is authorized to decide appropriate orders for activities in the service of the association or to conclude individual contracts. This also applies to reimbursement of expenses. The tax and non-profit limits must be observed.The General Assembly may, if necessary and taking into account the economic circumstances, decide that structural committees may refuse payment on the basis of a service contract or against payment of a lump-sum compensation according to § 3 no. 26 a EStG. The decision on contract contents and conditions is determined by the General Assembly.

Through the general meeting, persons who have rendered outstanding services to the association can be appointed honorary members by a two-thirds majority of the present voters. Honorary members will be appointed until the revocation by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority. Honorary members‘ voting and election rights as well as their eligibility are governed by § 9. They are exempt from paying contributions.

  1. The General Assembly elects at least one auditor per year who is not a member of the board nor a committee.
  2. The cash auditors must examine the accounts of the association objectively and mathematically at least once per financial year, including the books and documents, and report the results to the general meeting in writing.
  3. The cash auditors create a test report for the general meeting and apply for the proper management of the cash transactions, the discharge of the treasurer / treasurer and the rest of the board.
  1. The dissolution of the association is decided by a general meeting to be convened by a three-quarters majority of the votes cast.
  2. Liquidators are the presidents and treasurer. The General Assembly is entitled to nominate two other members of the association as liquidators.
  3. Upon dissolution of the association or the abolition of tax-privileged purposes, the assets of the association, to the extent that it exceeds existing liabilities, shall be reimbursed to a non-profit legal entity or other tax-privileged entity for use in promoting science and research or promoting international sentiment or the general Promotion of the democratic state.

This statute has been approved in the present form on April 28, 2016 by the general meeting of the association Polis180.

OUR MEMBERSHIP FEE REGULATIONS

You can find the membership regulations of Polis180 e.V. here.

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